Work Prompt #9: If you can learn one skill to level up your work, what will it be?
Welcome back all, I hope you are all taking it easy on yourself at work this week.
Last week we discussed: What were your biggest takeaways from your work experiences this year? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts for discussion. I enjoyed them. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you.
This week's prompt: If you can learn one skill to level up your work, what will it be?
I look forward to hearing and discussing with you all!
@ASilentObserver
I would like to improve my focus this year.
@CalmRosebud Focusing one's mind can be challenging, yet improving focus can serve us well at work and beyond. Your goals speak to bettering yourself through learning, which is commendable. What about focus is most important for you to explore right now?
Focus on my work in the real world.
@ASilentObserver sounds silly, but eye contact. I am terrible at it. And I don't really look at people's face when talking to them. I feel like an eye contact can go a long way. And I just can't look people in the face and avoid It if I don't have to. Also, I'm kinda face blind. My brain is just somehow not good at recognising or processing faces. I navigate based on other things, like clothes, hair style, accessories etc. So maybe if I got more comfortable looking into people's face for longer then a moment, it would help me in this part too
A visual representation how my dummy brain perceives faces, just without the Xes there lol. But pretty much the amount of information I get is the same
I feel I'm quite the same... Instead of looking into people's eyes I tend to look into theor mouths, which is whatnI remember the most afterwards 😅
@Suen00 i have the look slightly over shoulder practice lol. But for some reason, even if i look on someone´s face i am not processing it. Due to this I relay way more on my intuition in catching the vibe then the actual visual clues.
@sadcat13 Eye contact can be challenging for many reasons. It sounds like this is an area you've noticed could help in your work and daily interactions. Your awareness to develop this skill shows self-reflection and a desire to connect. What are some small steps you might take to gently push your comfort zone at your own pace?
@ASilentObserver I'm trying to look up for a second when talking to someone to slowly get more comfortable with it. Hopefully it helps.
I'm sure it does!
Some people look between the eyes. In this way it looks like you're actually looking at them in the eyes but you don't have the discomfort. =)
@sadcat13 It sounds like you are taking small, mindful steps to gently push your comfort zone at your own pace. you are dedicated to your personal growth in a caring, self-aware way.
@ASilentObserver yes I am. I'm self reflecting a lot and was always working on myself to be better, but also trying my best to not overdo it and find the balance between time to grow and time to take it easy
@ASilentObserver
A dog. To be able to take care of a dog...they increase productivity, lower stress and are fun and magical in general! Plus maybe I'll look less weird walking around my neighborhood or in parks or at the beach? Woof
@communicativePond1728 It sounds like taking care of a dog brings you a sense of joy and community. Having a furry friend by your side as you walk around the neighborhood also seems fulfilling. You mentioned lower stress and increased productivity too - understandably, canine companionship would be uplifting. You got this pond.
@ASilentObserver
Thanks Aso 😁
I guess, it'll have to be how to communicate or express myself in a way with colleagues, that doesn't give off the wrong intentions, then creating an awkward atmosphere between us (as that is what has happened with one specific colleague already, now I have no contact with her. No greetings, not talking, not even looking at her, not being in the same work space as her).
Or is that problem on my end? Or it's her that's misinterpreting everything I had said before and taking it personally? I don't know anymore. I'm just glad she's retiring in the next few months.
@ASilentObserver
@Jaeteuk It sounds like clear communication is important for maintaining positive relationships at work. Opening up about our experiences, even if just to better understand ourselves, can sometimes provide clarity. You care about getting along with others, as we all do, so don't be too hard on yourself. I would say that the future is bright and new connections may emerge.
When I tried to explain my intentions, the other person thinks I'm just being arrogant. Telling them things that they already know, when I am only passing on information that covers myself. For example, when I was covering a shift for someone who was on vacation for 3 weeks. On the day before they return, I left a note telling them I couldn't get certain things prepared for them, or telling them information that was told during their absence. Rather than a simple thank-you, their reply was me telling them something they already know of. Making me sound like a know-it-all and being arrogant about it. Then when I tried to explain my intentions, it's seen as making it up.
I thought I was just being responsible, passing on information that I was told during their absence. If they already know, then could've still responded with a thank-you. But the way of their response made me feel like I did something wrong.
@Jaeteuk I hear you Jae and can relate to that feeling. It sounds like you put thought and care into passing along important information while covering that shift. Not receiving appreciation for your efforts can feel discouraging. You doing your best Jae and I appreciate you for all your steps.
How to work in a team. I find it hard to follow the dynamics and I end up being frustrated and resentful. I'm definitley doing something wrong, I just don't know what.
@Suen00 It sounds challenging to feel frustrated and resentful in a team setting. You seem aware that there may be learning for you, though it's understandable this kind of situation can be hard to understand from within. What kinds of dynamics have you found most difficult to follow?
It's just seing the overall picture... Some things are very logical and straight forward to me but I get non-logical responses because there's other interests at play that I just don't see. Specially when it comes to taking care of everyone's ego. I just find groups very selfish and individualistic I guess, everyone has its own interests and this gets along the way for the group to advance in a healthy manner.
@ASilentObserver Well I'm currently going back to school to get a degree in general IT studies so I think that counts. Not quite sure where I will go with it but at least I am learning new things.
@Enthenia It sounds like continuing your education in IT studies is bringing you opportunities to learn new skills and explore different possibilities. Continuing to learn can be so enriching. I'm glad you're taking this step forward in your journey. What interests you most about this field so far?
@ASilentObserver I guess it's System Administratio and learning some of the programming lamguage. Some of them at least. Like the structure of Linux makes sense to me but I don't completely understand Java although I understand the concept fot the language.
It's a little likee how math was for me when I went to school the first time.
@ASilentObserver
Probably necromancy, because it develops:
meticulousness, clear and efficient note-taking, the ability to remember and repeat, problem solving,
organizational skills and planning ahead.
and then: (following the actual resurrections of various skeletons)
interpersonal skills via training new staff members, the ability to read people, establishing employee strengths and weaknesses (to delegate tasks appropriately), and the ability to mitigate conflict amongst members of the workplace.
@InitiateVoidProtocol
as well as working through anxiety and communicating effectively in front of a large or small audience.
@ASilentObserver fast writing tbh.
I almost failed my exam because I was too focused on building and fix the essay with a pencil. In my exam paper, if you use pencil, the teacher will minus the marks. I was planning on writing on pencil first then pen, but the time is only 1 hour. I didn't get enough time, so I cried 💀💔
Sorry to hear, it must be so frustrating!
Learn to keep my cool and certain comments to myself. No one takes offense of me comparing them to a drunken monkey. Work place be frustrating me.
@MoonLightShadow423 It sounds like work can become very frustrating at times. Keeping calm in challenging situations is certainly a useful skill. A safe workspace where all feel respected is so important. What kinds of feelings come up for you when comments are made that you find difficult to hear?
Be more irritation. If your 15 year old machine is broken. Only put so many band-aids on it.
@ASilentObserver if I could learn one skill to level up my work it would be to know how to reach 10× the people to generate higher income. But I don't feel I'm enough and have programming that being rich is disgusting and too much responsibility or work and that I can't do it and that money is dirty and evil.
@communicativePond1728 Pond, seems like you feel conflicted about wealth-building. What are the roots of these beliefs?